Ye Ling gave Bai Wuchang a deep look, then nodded, "Your proposal is good."
Bai Wuchang smiled slightly and bowed to Ye Ling, "Thank you, Immortal Lord, for gracing us with your presence. We shall wait here then."
"After Immortal Lord has finished handling matters here, we will escort her back into reincarnation."
"Mm."
Ye Ling nodded slightly and turned to Tian Yi and Xu Shuya, saying, "I have a solution that benefits both parties. Would you two like to hear it?"
"Emperor?"
Tian Yi and Xu Shuya looked at Ye Ling in unison, both taken aback.
"What solution is it?"
Ye Ling chuckled, "Given Xu Shuya's current state, her best outcome is to re-enter reincarnation, shed the identity of an Yin Embryo, and be accepted by the Heavenly Dao."
Xu Shuya quickly interjected, "Emperor, I don't care about such things. As long as I can..."
Tian Yi held Xu Shuya's hand and said softly, "Let the Emperor finish speaking."
Xu Shuya blinked, then apologized to Ye Ling, "I apologize, Emperor. I got a bit carried away..."
"It's alright."
Ye Ling smiled and continued, "I have found a way that will allow you to retain your current memories after you are reborn."
"Retain current memories?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Xu Shuya and Tian Yi were stunned, staring at Ye Ling in disbelief, thinking they had misheard.
How could this be possible?
However, after a moment of shock, Tian Yi respectfully bowed deeply to Ye Ling, "Since Emperor says it's possible, your subordinate believes you can achieve it."
"I... I believe it too," Xu Shuya quickly added.
She had chosen to continue living because she didn't want to forget certain people.
For Tian Yi, who had protected her for a hundred years, she was willing to endure the pain of the rest of her life.
And now, Ye Ling had proposed a new method that would not only allow her to retain her memories but also break free from the shackles of fate...
With these choices laid before her, she knew what to choose without hesitation.
This was a gift from the Emperor!
Xu Shuya kowtowed several more times to Ye Ling, saying, "I implore the Emperor to show Shuya this path. Shuya is eternally grateful!"
Tian Yi also reacted, mimicking Xu Shuya and kowtowing several times to Ye Ling, "Although this subordinate is no longer qualified to ask for anything from the Emperor in this life, I can pledge my next life, and the life after that... to be your subordinate for all eternity, never betraying you!"
"Tian Yi..."
Xu Shuya gazed at Tian Yi beside her, utterly astonished that Tian Yi would go to such lengths for her!
Xu Shuya softly said, "Brother Tian Yi, I am also willing... to accompany you for all eternity."
Hearing Xu Shuya's words, Tian Yi's body trembled violently!
"Enough, enough, I'm getting goosebumps."
Seeing that Tian Yi and Xu Shuya were about to get mushy again, Ye Ling quickly intervened, preventing them from forcing their affection upon him.
Suddenly addressed by Ye Ling, Tian Yi and Xu Shuya both felt a bit embarrassed, their faces flushing red as they separated.
Seeing this, Ye Ling sighed softly, then said with a hint of exasperation, "Since you both agree with the method I've proposed, let's proceed as I've said."
"Both of you, stand up."
"Mm."
Tian Yi and Xu Shuya stood up together, acting exceptionally obedient.
Ye Ling's gaze turned serious. He nodded slightly to the Black and White Impermanence nearby, then used his spiritual power to shake Xu Shuya's soul out of her physical body, simultaneously planting his mark within her soul.
The Black and White Impermanence leaped forward, grabbing Xu Shuya's soul from either side.
Xu Shuya could not see the Black and White Impermanence. She only felt a chill emanate from her arms, and her consciousness became somewhat hazy.
"Thank you, Immortal Lord. This humble immortal shall take his leave now."
Bai Wuchang transmitted his voice to Ye Ling, then opened a door in front of them.
"Remember your promise. If you fail to fulfill what you've agreed to with this Emperor, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Ye Ling's voice echoed in the ears of the Black and White Impermanence, his tone indifferent.
"This humble immortal remembers."
Bai Wuchang replied respectfully, then, along with Hei Wuchang, led Xu Shuya through the door and departed.
In Tian Yi's eyes, Xu Shuya's soul suddenly vanished, and he could no longer sense her presence.
Tian Yi looked at Ye Ling, swallowing hard, "Emperor, is Shuya... gone?"
"Mm," Ye Ling nodded, taking out a piece of jade and inscribing his soul power into it, then tossing it to Tian Yi.
Tian Yi quickly caught it, "Emperor, what is this?"
Ye Ling explained, "I have planted a mark in Xu Shuya's soul. Using this jade, you will be able to find her after she is reborn."
Tian Yi rejoiced and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Emperor."
Ye Ling cautioned again, "Remember, once you find Xu Shuya, do not startle her reborn parents. Settle them in nicely."
"Understood!"
Tian Yi responded swiftly, then looked at Xu Shuya's body lying on the ground and asked Ye Ling, "Emperor, Shuya's body..."
"Leaving it here would be a disaster. Destroy it," Ye Ling said indifferently, without any lingering attachment.
Xu Shuya's corpse was a pure Yin Yuan corpse, which would naturally attract countless demonic and unorthodox cultivators, leading to much trouble.
Since Ye Ling and Tian Yi could not utilize Xu Shuya's body for anything, destroying it was the best course of action for the remains.
"Yes."
Tian Yi respectfully bowed to Ye Ling, then picked up Xu Shuya's body and went to find a place to cremate it himself.
Not long after Tian Yi left, Ye Ling looked towards the depths of the forest again, "Come out... I've been waiting for you for a long time."
After Ye Ling's voice fell, a rustling sound came from the depths of the forest.
Zhang Mingyu, clad in a tattered Daoist robe, emerged.
He bowed respectfully to Ye Ling, "Emperor."
"Did you see everything?" Ye Ling asked.
Zhang Mingyu bowed respectfully, "I saw most of it."
"The Emperor's might is something we mortals can only look up to."
Zhang Mingyu was the sect leader of the Zhengyi Sect and had inherited the true teachings of Daoism. His ancestor was a figure who conversed with celestial beings. It was not surprising that Zhang Mingyu possessed one or two divine abilities.
Moreover, for the sake of killing a mere sixth-rank cultivator like Zhang Mingyu, the Hongchen Pavilion had even invited a half-step Hongchen Immortal, and several eighth-rank异士 (yi shi - extraordinary individuals) had died in Dao City, with the number of other ranked 异士 being uncountable!
If Zhang Mingyu were just an ordinary sixth-rank 异士, the Hongchen Pavilion would have been insane to pay such a high price to deal with him.
Therefore, from the very beginning, Ye Ling had focused his attention on Zhang Mingyu, observing his every move.
Ye Ling had noticed him the moment Zhang Mingyu followed them to the back mountain.
When the Black and White Impermanence arrived, Zhang Mingyu's emotions had changed significantly.
At that moment, Ye Ling knew...
Zhang Mingyu was different from Tian Yi and the others.
He could see the Black and White Impermanence!